Digital transformation and business intelligence for a SME: systems thinking action research using PrOH modelling

This paper discusses the digital transformation journey of a small and medium enterprise (SME) based in the UK. With the proposed digital transformation archetype, the paper highlights the improvement in various key performance indices (KPIs) for the case SME. The core KPIs and operational KPIs show improvement through the technology adoption as part of the digital manufacturing initiative. While embracing technology, such as Industry 4.0, it is important to highlight the importance of the change and other benefits of technological changes. The paper uses socio-technological system principles to achieve a successful transition. An action research approach and a specific soft system thinking methodology known as Process-Oriented Holonic (PrOH) modeling were used in this paper. A digital twin architecture is presented in the paper that showcases the use of integrated technologies for a digital manufacturing roadmap

Antecedents for blockchain technology-enabled sustainable agriculture supply chain

Blockchain can solve the problems that the agriculture supply chain (ASC) is facing to achieve sustainable growth. In a nation like India, blockchain application in the supply chain is still new; therefore, supply chain players need a better understanding and awareness of blockchain through valuable insights. This article aims to study the mediating role of blockchain technology adoption (BLCT) for sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP). This study investigates the influence of numerous factors such as green and lean practices, supply chain integration, supply chain risk, performance expectancy, top management support, cost, internal and external environmental conditions, regulatory support, and innovation capability on BLCT adoption. A sample of 316 respondents from Indian ASC industries was collected, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. This study's outcomes show that green and lean practices, supply chain integration, supply chain risks, internal and external conditions, regulatory support, innovation capability, and cost positively influence BLCT adoption. Moreover, BLCT positively influences sustainable agriculture supply chain performance. This article is valuable for policymakers, managers, service providers, researchers, and academicians to understand the role of factors in influencing BLCT and BLCT's role in improving sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP)

Equilibrium analysis in multi-echelon supply chain with multi-dimensional utilities of inertial players

In a supply chain, the importance of information elicitation from the supply chain players is vital to design supply chain network. The rationality and self-centredness of these players causes the information asymmetry in the supply chain and thus situation of conflict and non-participation of the players in the network design process. In such situations, it is required to analyse the supply chain players’ behaviour in order to explore potential for coordination through incentives. In this paper, a novel approach of social utility analysis is proposed to elicit the information for supply chain coordination among the supply chain players in a dyadic relationship – supplier and buyer. In principal, we consider a monopsony situation where buyer is a dominant player. With the objective of maximizing the social utility, efforts have been made to value behavioural issues in supply chain. On the other hand, the reluctance of player due to the information asymmetry is measured in the form of inertia – an offset to the supply chain profit. The suppliers’ behaviour is analysed with three distinct level of risk for two types of the product in procurement process. The useful insight from this paper is in supplier selection process where the reluctance of supplier offsets supply chain profit. The paper provides recommendations to supply chain managers for efficient decision-making ability in supplier selection process

Utility Analysis in Supply Chain: A Mechanism Design Approach

Utility analysis in supply chain is growing concerns for the supply chain practitioners. With more options open, the supply chain players' preference become multidimensional. The utility analysis with more than one parameter is a challenging task with non-cooperating players in the supply chain. In this book, the utility is analyzed with two vital parameters in the supply chain procurement function; price per unit and quantity of interest. Based on this analysis, the auction mechanism is derived for task allocation in the supply chain. The proposed framework for the auction mechanism includes major paradigms of envy-free solutions

Supply chain network redesign problem for major beverage organization in ASEAN region

Global supply chains engage in economic exchanges and flows of capital across borders. The free flow of economic goods opens opportunities for organizations to optimize supply chains across global networks and develop socially embedded interdependent relationships. This study explores issues related to multi-echelon supply chains and the effect of economic integration on a major beverage company’s distribution in the emerging Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC). Case-based modeling is conducted to resolve discrepancies in perceptions of supply chain network formation between academic research and industry. This paper determines the network configuration involving minimum gross cost while considering the impacts of barriers to resource accessibility and external economic decisions on infrastructure in a real-world supply chain network where end products of in-house manufacturing are acquired from external sources and incorporated in warehouses. A mixed-integer linear programming model was developed to design a multi-stage supply chain network using ILOG LOGIC NET. The model explores location and capacity selection for plants and warehouses in parallel with capacity selection for suppliers and transportation in the AEC, and we determine the optimal flow of products and product families through the network medium. Three different scenarios were evaluated to obtain differing resolutions that can empower decision-makers to understand influences on overall supply chain networks based on futuristic development preferences and regional economic integration.</p

Contraceptive use and unintended pregnancies among HIV-infected women in Mumbai

Background: Access to reproductive health services in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) programs can greatly enhance program′s potential to limit the spread of disease, reduce unintended pregnancies and safeguard the health of infected people. Objectives: To assess (i) knowledge, attitude, and use regarding contraceptives; safe sex and dual protection; (ii) fertility desires and unintended pregnancies post HIV and (iii) symptoms of reproductive tract infection/sexually transmitted infection (RTI/STI) among women infected with HIV. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study among 300 currently married HIV-positive women who had not undergone permanent sterilization with no immediate desire for pregnancy. Study site was Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTC) in tertiary hospitals of Mumbai and women were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. Results: In spite of good awareness about modern methods, 42.7 felt that contraceptives other than condoms were harmful to use due to their HIV status. Knowledge on dual protection was limited to condom (75%). Condom use increased from 5.7% pre-HIV to 71.7% post-HIV, with 89.6% reporting regular use. Future fertility desire was expressed by 8.7% women. Induced abortions post-HIV was reported by16.6% women, as pregnancies were unintended. About 69% wished to use dual contraceptive methods for effective protection if it was not harmful to be used by people living with HIV (PLHIV). Conclusion: Data reveals a need to promote modern contraceptive methods along with regular condom use to prevent unintended pregnancies and improve health-seeking behavior for contraception. Health system models that converge or link HIV services with other reproductive health services need to be tested to provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare to infected women in India